Method of and apparatus for solidifying molten metal



(No Model.)

G. W. GOETZ.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUSPOR SOLIDIFYING MOLTEN METAL. No. 447,511.

Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SOLIDIFYING MOLTEN METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,511, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed November 29, 1889. Serial No. 331,901. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE IV. GOETZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for solidifying Molten Metal, of which improvement the following is a specification.

In the operation of casting molten metal from blast-furnaces or other receptacles, as heretofore ordinarily practiced, the molten metal is run into sand molds, in which it remains until solidified and sufficiently cooled for removal in separate blocks or pigs. This method involves the objections of requiring the expenditure of time and labor in the preparation of the molds and considerable floor-space for their reception, and of delay in the solidification andcooling of the metal and inconvenience by the adhesion of particles of sand to the castings formed.

It is the object of my invention to obviate the objections above recited by the provision of a method and apparatus by which the solidification of the molten metal may be effected during a comparatively short transit from the furnace or receptacle to a receptacle in which it is removed for storage or use, thereby dispensing with molds and avoiding the delay which is necessarily incident to solidification therein.

To this end my invention, generally stated, consists in a novel method of solidifying molten'metal by subjecting the same to the conjoined action of refrigeration and mechanical agitation in its traverse from a receptacle to a point of delivery, and also in the combination of a receiving spout or channel, a tubular solidifying-vessel adapted to be rotated adjacent thereto and provided with supply and discharge openings, a refractory lining located at and near the supply-opening of said vessel, and a cooling-chamber inclosing a substantial portion ofthe remainder of said Vessel and provided with connections for the supply and discharge of a refrigerating medium. I

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.'

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 a longitudinal central section through an apparatus, illustrating an application of my invention; and Fig. 2 a transverse section through the same at the line a: a: of Fig. 1.

In the practice of my invention the molten metal which is to be solidified is, in lieu of being run into molds, as in the ordinary casting operation, led from the furnace or other receptacle in which it is contained into a vessel or conduit of such construction as will admit of the continued traverse of the metal through the same at a comparatively slow speed, and is during such traverse subjected to the coincident and continuous action of a refrigerating medium and of mechanical agitation, such action being primarily applied to the conducting-vessel in any suitable manner, and being transmitted from and through the same to the metal supplied thereto. The application of the refrigerating medium effects the chilling and solidification of the molten metal, and the mechanical agitation to which the metal is subjected separates it as it becomes solidified into detached portions or fragments, in which condition it is discharged from the vessel intoa suitable receptacle. The traverse 0f the metal through the solidifying-vessel is preferably effected by the action of gravity, and the refrigerating medium may be water or other fluid at an eX- t-rem ely low temperature supplemented by an induced draft of air through the solidifyingvessel, to which a rotary or other movement proper to effect the desired agitation of the metal is imparted by the application of mechanical power.

By the term mechanical agitation as employed herein I refer to any diversion of the metal from a direct longitudinal traverse su fficient in degree to effect the separation of the solidified metal into detached portions or fragments, and hence, in so far as relates to mechanical agitation as a step in the method claimed by me, I desire to include any movement imparted to the metal proper and sufficient for its separation, as by the rotation, rocking, reciprocation, or elevation and depression of the vessel through which it traverses, or by any other suitable known means of agitation applied to the metal by which its separation into fragments during its traverse may be effected.

In the apparatus shown in the drawings,

which is desirably adaptable in the practice of the method above described, I provide a tubular solidifying vessel 1 of heavy plate metal, and preferably, as shown, of cylindrical form, which is mounted in an inclined position and adapted to be rotated at a comparativel y slow speed upon suitable rollerbeariugs, as presently to be described. The vessel 1 is open at its higher and supply end, and is provided at and for a portion of its length adjacent to its supplybpening 2 with an annular lining of refractory material 3, the portion inclosing the lining being of greater diameter than the remainder of the vessel, so that its bore may be about equal to or somewhat less than that of the latter. The lower and discharge end of the vessell is provided with a head 4-, which may either extend entirely across it or be in the form of a skeleton frame, having openin gs between a central hub and a rim extending from the periphery of the vessel fora greater orless distance toward its axis. The purpose of mounting the solidifying-vesselin an inclined position is to enable the longitudinal traverse of the metal, which rests upon the lower portion of the vessel, to be effected by the action of gravity, and it will therefore be obvious that a solidifyingvcsscl in the form of a truncated cone and having its axis horizontal, or substantially so, would constitute the mechanical equivalent of and may, if desired, be substituted for, the inclined cylindrical vessel shown and described herein.

The solidifying vessel is inclosed throughout that portion of its length between the inner end of the refractory lining 3 and the discharge end of the vessel by a substantial casing of plate metal 5, which forms the outer boundary of an annular cooling-chamber 6, interposed between its innersurface and the outer surface of the solidifying-vessel 1, and closed at one head by the head a and at the other by an annular plate which adjoins the refractory lining. Two or more annular bearing-plates 6 are secured upon the outer surface of the easing 5,each of said plates resting upon a series of roller-bearings 7, which are supported at diiferent heights in fixed bearings S and serve to support and admit of the rotation of the solidifying-vessel. A gear 9 is secured upon the periphery of the casing 5 near its center and meshes with a pinion l0, fixed upon a shaft, which is preferably the crank-shaft of a steam-engine, specially provided for the rotation of the solidifyingvessel, but which may be a countershaft driven by any suitable prime mover. A longitudinal dischargepassage 11 is formed on one side of the solidifyingvessel adjacent to the head t, and extending therefrom through the chamber 6 and casing 5.

A supply nozzle or connection 12 is secured upon one side of the casing 5 adjacent to the discharge end of the solidifying-vessel, from which nozzle an inlet-pipe 13 extends longigitudinally through the cooling-chamber 6,

terminating by an open end near the opposite end thereof, and a discharge nozzle or connection 1 1 is secured to the heads and opens into the cooling-chamberon the side opposite to that to which the supply-nozzle is connected. The supply-nozzle 12 communicates by a connecting-pipe 15 with a pipe 16, inclosed in an outer pipe 17, said pipes being secured centrally at one end to the head 4 and having their opposite or outer ends fitted to turn freely in a refrigerating apparatus and in a fixed box or chamber 18, respectively. The inner pipe 16 turns in and makes a close joint with a nozzle 19 on a refrigerating apparatus 20, of any suitable construction adapted to provide a supply of water or other fluid at an extremely low temperature, and a return or discharge pipe 21 communicates with the outer pipe 17 through the chamber 18, the pipe 21 leading from said chamber to the refrigerating apparatus 20.

A draft of air is maintained through the solidifying-vessel from its discharge toward its supply end by an exhauster 22, connected with a fixed draft pipe 23, which passes through the supply-opening 2 of the solidifying-vcssel and extends longitudinally for a short distance into the same.

A receiving spout orchannel 24 is supported on a stand 25, adjacent to the supply end of the solidifying-vessel, its delivery end projecting slightly into the latter and is preferably fitted to be moved around the axis of its support, so as to be withdrawn from the vessel 1 from time to time, as desired. The so lidifying-vessel and receiving-spout are located in such proximity to the blast-furnace 26 or other supply of molten metal that the same maybe delivered to the receiving-channel bya ladle 27 and run into the solidifyingvessel by a comparatively short traverse through the receiving-channel. The solidi-- fied metal is removed from the vessel 1 by means of a car 28, running upon a track below the discharge-passage 11.

In operation a comparatively slow movementof rotation is imparted to the solidifying-vessel and the molten metal is fed thereinto through the receiving-channel, a current of water or other refrigerating medium at a very low temperature being coincidently circulated through the outer cooling-chamber. The molten metal is received upon the refractory lining of the solidifying-vessel, and, passin g from the lining to the portion of the vessel which is surrounded by the cooling-chamber, is chilled and solidified in its forward and downward traverse through said portion,and is by the rotation of the vessel separated into detached portions or fragments, which drop through the lateral discharge-passage into and are removed by the car which travels below the same. The solidification of the metal is further promoted by the withdrawal of heated air and corresponding inflow of cooler air induced by the action of the draftpipe and exhauster.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. As an improvement in the art of solidifying molten metal and separating it into merchantable form, the method which consists in subjecting the molten metal to the action of refrigeration and to mechanical movement by its progressing traverse over and in continuous contact until partially solidified, with a refrigerated unbroken surface moving transversely to the line of traverse of the metal, whereby the metal will be partially solidified and separated into detached portions, substantially as set forth.

2. As an improvement in the art of solidifying molten metal and separating it into merchantable form, the method which consists in feeding the same into and effecting its comparatively slow longitudinal traverse through a solidifying-vessel, solidifying the metal by subjecting it to the action of a refrigerating medium during such traverse, and coincidently separating the metal when partially solidified into detached portions by diverting it from direct longitudinal traverse, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a tubular solidifying-vessel which is open at one of its ends, a refractory lining extending longitudinally therein at and near its open end,a casing inclosing the vessel for the remainder of its length and forming an annular cooling-chamber around the same, a lateral discharge-passage extending through said chamber adjacent to the end farthest from the refractory lining, bearin g-rin gs fixed upon the periphery of the casing, roller-bearings supported in fixed stands at different elevations and sustaining said rings, so as to impart a longitudinal inclination to the vessel, gearing for imparting rotation to the vessel, supply and discharge connections leading from the cooling-chamber to a refrigerating apparatus, and a receiving-channel projecting into the supply-opening of the solidifying-vessel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE WV. GOETZ.

Witnesses:

J. SNoWDEN BELL, R. H. WHITTLESEY. 

